Kentucky Derby Medina Spirit Fails Second Drug Test, Title In Jeopardy Of Being Stripped
June 2 2021, Published 1:15 p.m. ET
Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit has failed his second blood test.
The test confirmed the presence of the banned steroid betamethasone, a lawyer for the horse's owner told CNBC on Wednesday.
Medina Spirit's winning title is now in jeopardy of being stripped.
If that happens, the May 1st second place winner Mandaloun will be declared the official winner.
According to the attorney, Medina Spirit will undergo one more drug test.
Their hope is to find the chemicals to support trainer Bob Baffert's claims that the betamethasone found in the horse's blood could be from an antifungal ointment, and not an injection.
If the third test produces the result they are hoping for, the attorney could use that to argue against Medina Spirit being disqualified from the race.
The attorney also alluded that he might challenge the first and second blood test results.
“I have not seen the paperwork to conclude that even the primary or split tests were properly admitted," he told the outlet.